Anthem of the Taíno Resurgence: Naboria Daca Ae Mayanimacaná
What might be called the unofficial “anthem” of the Taíno indigenous resurgence is the beautiful, moving song by Juan Luis Guerra of the Dominican Republic, sung in the Taíno language, titled Naboria Daca Ae Mayanimacaná. The song comes from his 1992 album, Areito, which refers to Taíno dance, an album that featured a number of anti-colonial and anti-capitalist hits, earning it the distinction of being banned in several countries that were fearful of publicizing music with allegedly “anti-American” messages (just in case there was anyone left who still maintained the illusion that empire and democracy can go hand in hand).
The words (courtesy of Guacara Dreamtime) follow the song, I added the English translation in place of the Spanish translation.
Taíno lyrics:
Naboria daca ae
mayanimacaná
naboria daca
guaitiao
mayanimacaná
naboria daca eo
Naboria daca ae
naboria daca eo
a mayanimacaná
naboria daca ae
naboria daca eo
a mayanimacaná
naboria daca ae
naboria daca eo
naboria daca eo
naboria daca eo
mayani mayanimacaná
naboria daca eo
naboria daca eo
Calichi
guarico guakía
calichi
guariquén
machichi
mayanimacaná
machichi
yu
peiti
ris
Naboria daca, mayanimacaná, mayanimacaná,
mayanimacaná!
naboria daca eo
machichi
mayanimacaná
machichi
yu
peiti
ris
Naboria daca, mayanimacaná, mayanimacaná,
mayanimacaná!
naboria daca eo
English lyrics:
I am a servant
don’t kill me
I am a servant
your blood brother
don’t kill me
I am a servant
I am a servant
don’t kill me
I am a servant
Stream from the high mounatin
Come to us
Stream from the high mounatin
Look, come and see
my heart
don’t kill me
my heart
white
black
red
I am a servant
don’t kill me,
don’t kill me
don’t kill me!
hi, it´s a wonderful song, but i want what it mean
Thanks
The translation of the song is provided below the video. How one can interpret the song is something open to each of us. I don’t know that there is any one “correct” interpretation of it. What did it mean to you?
This is a great song, but which “several countries” banned the Areito album?? I don’t recall the whole album being banned; I thought it was just the video of one song (’El Costo de la vida’) in the Dominican Republic.
By the way, I don’t think it’s fair to single out the U.S. — it was the Europeans who colonized the Americas in the first place, which is largely what Mr. Guerra was critiquing in his 1992 album (the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s discovery of the Americas).
Good points. I don’t know if it was the whole album that was banned, and I think what you say here is probably what the case actually was. You’re right of course, about losing sight of Europe.